Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Been Away Too Long

Wow, I have been so bad about posting ... cannot believe it has been so long. So sorry if anyone has looked! I have to get on the ball here ... it has been a rough few months but I am back and will do my best to post more often and hopefully I will get people to look. Thanks for checking on me Melinda! You are the best!

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Sew, Pam commented that there must be a story about my header quilt .... I guess I never thought to explain.... sew, here we go. Nothing earth shattering of course, but, I do love this quilt. One of my favorites. I started quilting almost four years ago by taking a "One Block Wonders" class at a quilt shop that was closing and where I'd always wanted to take a class. It was the only class that struck my fancy and I had seen the book, but I couldn't every figure out the quilts in the book. The class was fabulous and I fell in love with one block wonders. I have made 13 over the past few years and am happy with all of them. They are what makes me quilt. I try other ones because I do not like to get stuck in a rut, but I always come back and am so happy I did. I know they are not other people's cups of tea always. I think you either love them or hate them.... I'm okay with that. I don't even care if anyone else likes them. They are my cup of tea and why I continue to quilt. I love how you can take a piece of fabric and make it completely different and even if 10 people took the same piece, none of the quilts out of the same pattern will look the same! Love that!!!

Sorry this is getting long .... just explaining. While I love one block wonders, what I really love about them is how you can take a fabric that is not beautiful and make something beautiful out of it. Herein lies the story behind my dragon quilt. While I didn't think the dragon fabric was ugly, it was not something I would use for any ordinary quilt (or extraordinary quilt, but any other pattern). I love dragons and anything fairy tale, truth be told. I also love red, black and white and the colors in this fabric spoke to me. Of course, I wasn't the one who found the fabric. I was actually shopping with a friend and not looking for fabric when my friend Carol said, Karen, I have found a fabric that shouts "YOU". So, I tried to not buy it, but she was right, it kept shouting while we were shopping and I bought it. It shouted so loudly that I started it immediately and finished it faster than any quilt I've made. The dragon applique also spoke to me. I'm not sure why, but I knew it had to happen. It is now on my bed and I love seeing it every day!!! Thanks for asking Pam! Appreciate you wanting to know!!

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

What I've Been Doing This Week.... Selvages Rock!


My camera is dying from too much abuse so this is not as good as it could be, but I'm really into this selvage block making. Love it. Some of these are actually ties from packages or ribbons from things I've purchased, but all are fabric! It is so fun. Kinda hooked. I really loved it in theory, but hadn't tried it until I started saving them about six months ago and decided I needed to either start making some or risk being overtaken by selvages! Then, I was given some fabric I thought I would never use, then I decided, hey, I can use it for foundation pieces. Sew, there you are. I have this one white one made and then.......

I branched out and, ta da..... I love these. There are definitely not perfect, but I'm learning and I still have a ton of selvages left to play with. This is just last week too! I have tried to make at least one a day .... and as you can see, I did more than that! Can I say "addictive!"

Hope all of you enjoy your week and you are getting sunshine!

Friday, April 29, 2011

Royal Wedding/Birthday!


So, it's my birthday today and I think it is so nice that William and Catherine chose my birthday to get married. I'm sure it was all about me! (yeah, it IS St. Catherine's day as well, but I'm sure it is me, not that!) My sister and I had our own little royal tea party. It was so fun. I didn't remember to take pics of the food, which was yummy, but I did take a pic of the tiara she got me and the pillbox hat she wore. So much fun to watch such a fun event when so much bad is happening in the world right now. A little breath of fresh air!

Friday, April 22, 2011

Pillowcases!

I made these pillowcases for my son's girlfriend. I had made a superman pillowcase for him and she liked it so much, she wanted one. I made her two of the green one (so she had a spare) and she apparently has a larger than standard pillow and I made the flip flop one for that pillow. I hope she likes them!! They are so easy and fun to make. Now, I need to make some for me! I always leave myself out ... what about you? It is finally the weekend!! Have a great one!

Thursday, April 14, 2011

I'm back. Here's what I've been doing!!!

I'm so sorry I've been neglectful.... I know I don't have a lot of followers, but tough to get anyone interested when you don't post. I guess I had a bit of the winter blues, was on my fabulous London vacation to see my oldest son and then have had a hard time getting back into anything, much less quilting! I hate that .... oh, well. I'm back! I have joined a couple of swaps, easy ones, but fun. Just some 9 inch block swaps, the block swap and a tea bag swap! Fun, fun, fun. Two of my friends are pregnant and it is so fun to make little baby quilts. I made the quilt below for my friend Erica who is having a boy.
This is the back (which I actually love): And this is the front:




















I used flannel in the middle and am not sure how I like it ... I didn't want to do a lot of quilting but it came out a little wonky after I washed it. Live and learn! I guess I should have done more quilting.

This block is for the block swap I'm in. I have never made a Grandmother's Fan before and I don't think I will again. I'm not very good at it. I made it over twice, fused and fumed and finally said, good enough. Not what I like to do, but I was too frustrated to do it again!!! Hopefully, my partner is a "it doesn't have to be perfect" kinda gal!!!

Sew, I'm going to try to post at least once a week, if not more, and am trying to sew every day ... at least some. I have a carpel tunnel overuse injury in my right wrist so have to be careful to not overdo until it is better.

Here's my list for the month of April (rest of the month): Pillowcases for my son's girlfriend, pillow case for my other son's fiance, pillow covers for my sister, start a new kaleidoscope quilt just for ME!!! That should be enough for right now!!! Have a great weekend.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

New Fabric from London - LIBERTY!




Sew, I haven't been sewing at all for ages ... I hit a block after all the Christmas sewing and the purple quilt. Too much for me ... I did make my swap blocks, but that is really it. Since my youngest son is home for spring break, I won't get any done this week either, but next week, we are going to our timeshare at the beach and we are all in need of some relaxation! (Yes, I did just back from London, but that was an all out walk-fest ... fun, but I'm still tired!) Sew, I am taking my machine, taking blocks I finished years ago but never got put together and finishing the blocks and hope to start putting that quilt together.... that said, I have been on a fabric diet since September ... been doing fairly well, but had to buy at Liberty ... way too expensive, but the most wonderfully soft an beautiful fabrics ... got carried away! Back on the diet now! My camera is dying so these aren't great, but you can see why I loved them, right?

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Oh, what a fabulous time with my son! London and Paris were great, but spending time with AJ was even better! I even found a few fabric stores!!! Went to Liberty of London and bought way too much (moneywise) fabric but it is gorgeous! Also found a little, tiny shop in one of the many markets we went to that had only been opened a week so I had to by something from her too!! Happy to be home, but really loved my trip and can't wait to get back! Hmmmm. Means I have to decide what to spend money on ... saving for plane fare or fabric ... oh well, I have a large stash!!! I'll post more pics later! Just been home one day and jet lag has set in!

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Off to visit my son in London!!!


I know, you're all jealous!! I'm so excited! Our weather forecast is for a possibility of snow, of course, so think happy thoughts that I get out in time to make my connection. I will post pics when I get back in March! This was my Christmas Present from my hubby, who unfortunately is not able to go as he is a teacher and can't take the time off! He is wonderful for letting me go see my big boy and his fiance in their flat on the Thames! Did I tell you I was excited! Miss them so much! Here they are in front of Buckingham Palace when they first moved there last month! I'll have some more wonderful pics when I get back and you'll have to look!!


Sunday, February 20, 2011

Off to visit my son and, this is what I have been doing!

I made this for a block swap I'm in. This is my first attempt at a wonky block and I really love the colors! What do you think? I may make myself one too! I have been neglecting my blog due to life getting in my way! Nothing new .... I hurt my back, ugh! I ended up going to the emergency room to get a pain shot (after having them let me sit around in severe pain for 4 hours because I wasn't THAT much of an emergency) and missing two days of work because I couldn't stand up straight. I am still a little stiff and sore, but am getting back to normal in time to go on vacation! Thank goodness

So, on Wednesday, I leave bright and early to visit my son and daughter out-law (son's fiance) in London and spending three days in Paris! So excited. I will be gone for over a week and haven't seen my son in six months! He moved from Philadelphia to London in September so his girl can attend graduate school. He is now working at Whole Foods in London and acclimating to British life! I can't wait, but that also means I will again neglect my blog (not too many visitors yet, but my own fault ... I'm going to try harder to get more of you involved upon my return).

My younger son is coming home just after my return from vacation. He'll be home for spring break for two weeks! I'm a very lucky mom! For his return, I made him this pillowcase because he is a huge Superman fan! I hope he likes it!

Thanks for stopping by and I promise to post some pictures from my trip! Hope you are all being productive and happy. Happy quilting!

Karen

Sunday, January 30, 2011

A New Mug Rug!


Sew, I only have my six followers, but that's okay, this is very cathartic for me. I've decided I've been a little depressed since my youngest went back to school on January 15th. I need to pick myself up and get back in the game. I did finish and send off my mug rug for the mug rug swap I was in that needed to be in the mail by the 31st. I had to send mine to Argentina. That was kind of fun knowing that my little mug rug would go to a foreign country where I've never been (although we have friend from Argentina, does that count?) So, here's a picture of my mug rug. I think it turned out well. My hubby liked it and wants me to recreate it ... although, I'm just not one to recreate ... once I do something, I'm on to the next thing (except One Block Wonders.... oh how I love those).

Monday, January 24, 2011

Look What I Got!!!



Sew, I am i a block exchange and I got my block from my partner on Saturday with a piece of the center fabric for extra!!! Isn't it beautiful! (one on the bottom)



I also sent her my block I made for her. I love the fabrics I made for her .... but, she got mine just perfectly .... I love the wonky star and the fabrics are sew ME! (One on the top)